Prosecutors: Man shot 6 times while shielding toddler in car seat

A Chicago man is accused of shooting a rival gang member as he put his daughter in a car seat.

A Chicago man is accused of shooting a rival gang member as he put his daughter in a car seat.

By Geoff ZiezulewiczTribune reporter

A Little Village man was denied bail Sunday after he was accused of shooting a man six times as the victim tried to put his toddler in a car seat.

Esteban Sotelo, 19, of the 2100 block of South Fairfield Avenue, faces charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon in connection to Thursday's shooting. The 14-year-old boy for whom the shooting was supposed to be a gang initiation is charged with aggravated battery and discharge of a firearm, authorities said.

The victim, a 29-year-old man, remains at Mt. Sinai hospital with wounds to the legs, back and neck, according to Assistant State’s Attorney Heather Kent.

He also has a round lodged in his nasal cavity below his eye, Kent said.

Sotelo, who is nicknamed “Sniper” and is an admitted member of the Latin Kings gang, set out Thursday afternoon with the boy to shoot a member of the rival Satan’s Disciples gang, according to Kent and court records.

The shooting was supposed to be part of the boy’s initiation into the gang, Kent said Sunday in Cook County Bond Court.